Expert review of medical devices
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Expert Rev Med Devices · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisPulsed dye laser for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars: a systematic review.
Keloids and hypertrophic scars affect millions of patients. In spite of the widely accepted clinical efficacy of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the treatment of these scars, a summary of the evidence comparing the use of PDL with conventional treatment modalities has not yet been undertaken. ⋯ Results show that treatment with PDL may be superior to conventional modalities in improving overall scar appearance, but results were comparable when scar parameters were evaluated separately. More parallel comparison trials with standardized methods of treatment and outcome assessment are recommended to evaluate long-term treatment effects and recurrence rates.
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Expert Rev Med Devices · Nov 2012
ReviewEdwards SAPIEN and Edwards SAPIEN XT transcatheter heart valves for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis.
Aortic stenosis is the most common heart valve lesion, with aortic valve replacement being the most common type of valve surgery in the Western world. With the aging population, more and more patients are declined for surgical aortic valve replacement owing to age and comorbidities. ⋯ The Edwards SAPIEN and Edwards SAPIEN XT transcatheter heart valves are currently in widespread use, with promising outcomes in terms of short-to-medium-term mortality and valve durability in high-risk patients or patients not eligible for surgical valve replacement. Randomized trials are currently underway to assess transcatheter aortic valve replacement in lower risk surgical candidates, while long-term mortality data are keenly awaited.